ODESSA, Texas – Getting one step closer to a Lone Star Conference Championship, the 10^th-ranked Angelo State baseball team defeated UT Permian Basin 18-2 in game one of the series on Friday at Roden Field.
 
With the win, the Rams improve to 37-10 overall on the year and 35-10 in conference play.
 
Aaron Walters started the scoring for the Rams, hitting a single to left field to score Austin Beck for the first run of the contest.
 
The Rams added to their lead in the third, scoring four runs in the inning as Justin Lee hit a two-RBI single up the middle followed by hits from Jordan Williams and Tayten Tredaway.
 
After a run on a wild pitch in the fourth made it 6-0, the Falcons scored their first runs of the game off a two-RBI homer.
 
ASU quickly answered back, scoring 12 runs over the last three innings of the game, including five in the seventh.
 
Beck finished the contest a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with five runs scored, three RBIs and forced two walks. Justin Harris ended with a game-high five RBIs, hitting a three-RBI single in the seventh, while Walters collected four RBIs in all.
 
Benjamin Elder tallied his sixth win of the season to improve to 6-2 overall on the year, throwing six innings of work with four hits, two runs, and three strikeouts. Making his first appearance on the mound for the Rams was Reese Johnson who threw one inning of relief, while allowing only one hit.
 
The Rams and Falcons will be back at it tomorrow in a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m.